DS VIRGIN RACING DETERMINED TO RAISE THE BAR IN BERLIN

Fri, 13/05/2016 - 21:45

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As DS Virgin Racing prepare to race on the streets of the German capital for Round 8 of the FIA Formula E Championship, the team is seeking to carry through the form it displayed at the last race in Paris to ensure a top three position in the constructor standings by the season end.

The Berlin ePrix is set on a 1.927km city centre track in the heart of the city winding around Strausberger Platz and towards the iconic Alexanderplatz..

“After a successful event in Paris with Jean-Eric Vergne claiming second place in the race and Sam Bird his third pole position of the season, we need to maintain that sort of form and ensure that we achieve as many podiums as possible between now and the end of the season. It’s not lost on the team that we were very close to a double podium in Paris,” says DS Virgin Racing’s Team Principal, Alex Tai.

There are just six points separating DS Virgin Racing and their third place competitors, Dragon Racing, in the Championship standings. In the wake of Moscow being cancelled, Berlin has become the penultimate European location ahead of season finale in London which will host the two concluding races on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd July in Battersea Park.

“We’re getting stronger and stronger this season,” explains Bird. “It was a small mistake that saw the team fall short of a double podium during the last race and I think that goes to show how far we have come. We are looking for a top 3 position in the standings at the end of the season and with just three races left we have to ensure we maintain focus, but I’m confident we have what it takes.”

The Berlin ePrix is set on a 1.927km city centre track in the heart of the city winding around Strausberger Platz and towards Alexanderplatz, with the pitlane on the popular Karl-Marx-Allee. The new track contains a total of 11 turns with tight corners and four long straits which will most likely lead to plenty of overtaking opportunities and make for an exciting and undoubtedly intense race.

“Obviously Paris was a great result, both for me personally and the team,” explains Vergne. “I had a complicated season before Paris but now I feel that I’ve left that behind me. Both Sam and I were extremely fast during qualifying in Paris so we need to be aiming for much of the same in Berlin, which would obviously set us up very well for the race. If we can do that, I’m confident the team will be in the top three.”

Head of DS Performance, Xavier Mestelan Pinon added, “This track has less turns than the Paris one which will make it challenging for the cars, especially in terms of temperature management. Having said that, the team has made vast improvements and I look forward to seeing what Berlin brings.”

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